Car coupler operating device



June 27, 1933. A. E. SMALL CAR COUPLER OPERATING DEVICE Filed March 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l gveniar Hrtilur E. Small June 27, 1933. A. E. SMALL CAR COUPLER OPERATING DEVICE Filed March 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Event or ,4rihur EZSma/I Patented June 27, 1933 UNITED STATES ARTHUR E. SMALL, or cHroAGo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION METAL rnonucrs COMPANY, or CHICAGO, rumors, A, CORPORATION or DELAWARE crating a railway car coupler mounted upon PATENT OFFICE CAR ooulrinn OPERATING nnvron Application filed. March 14, 1931. Serial No. 522,573.

Thisinvention relates to a device for opthecar for lateral and longitudinal movement and-having a pivoted knuckle provided with a tail engageable with 'a knuckle lock to which such an. operating device is connected. The invention relates specifically to a railway car coupler having an anti-creep feature which is so formed that the lock can be raised to anunlocked position by the operatingdevice, but cannot be raised by the creeping action ofthe locks due to the service movements of the car. Some of such couplers are'provided' with a member mounted. upon the coupler and arranged to operate the. coupler upon rotationof an operating rod operatively attached thereto.

Another object is to provide such a device which accommodates the longitudinal and lateral service movements of the coupler without effecting the efiiciency of the device. Another object is to provide a device wherein the handle .thereof will return to normal vertical position when the coupler is left in lock-set position.

Another object of the invention is to providesuch an operating device which is operable from anywhere betweenthe coupler and the side wall of the car so that a train man may throw the knuckle lock with one hand and operate the coupler with the other hand. V

Another object of the invention is to provide a car coupler operating device which may also be used as a car coupler positioning device; that is, may be used to position the coupler laterally.

I Another object is to provide a device having an operating rod which forms the handle of the device and is so arranged that a mans hand will not slip off the handle, which is possible in a device having a depending handle. 1 I

The Interstate Commerce Commission Safety Appliance Acts specifythat the depending handle of an operating rod for car coupler shall 1 not exceed fifteen inches (15) from the-center of the fulcrum to the end of the handle, therefore, the mechanical leverage obtainableby such a handle is the distance from the center of the operators hand to the fulcrum, which is usually about twelve inches (12"). However, when an operator grabs the horizontal portion of my device thefldistancefrom the center of his hand to the fulcrum (bracket bearing) is the full fifteen inches (15) and the device complies with the law,therefore, the lever arm has been increased about twenty-five percent (25%). In other words, with the same amount of force applied my mechanism is twenty-five percent (25%) stronger than the device now in general use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a horizontal step for trainmen climbing up or down the car, which might'also be used as a horizontal grab iron for a trainmen caught between the cars.

Another object of the invention isto pro- .vlde an operating rod for such a coupler having a stabilizer which is associated with a part of the car (preferably a bracket mounted on the car) so as to stabilize the rod by gravity against a rotative movement thereofwhich would release the coupler anticreep feature. ,Thedevice is preferably arranged to stabilize the rod against a rotative movement in either direction, as a swinging movement of the handle toward the car might cause a swinging movement away from the car, which latter movement would'u nlock the anti-creep. r

In the drawings:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the preferred form ofmy invention.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show a modified form of the invention which is provided with a stabilizer.-'

Figs/7, 8 and 9 show a modified form pro vided witha stabilizer comprising means to positively hold the operating rod in normal position. i Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show a modified form of the device provided with a horizontal extension.

gitudinally thereof in'service. The coupler ed 11129;; t e carcomp s ng' a u stanti y.

horizontal portion orbearing B spaced from the car Witharm'sQ at its opposite ends form-- ing means of attachment to the-car. The

operating rod comprises a shank portion 12 with its inner end operatively connected to y the rotor 3 ofthe coupler and a portion extending upwardly from the outer end ofthe I shank portion 12,' the upper end of the upright portion being slidably and pivotally supported upon bearing 8 of the bracket so that as the coupler moves laterally in service the operating rodslides back and forth on the horizontal bearing of the bracket. If

the car construction requires the operating I rod to be positioned diagonally the bearing shown in Fig. L

8 ofthe bracket is preferably positioned sub stantially parallel. to the operating rod, as

In order to stabilize the device and prevent it' fro'm swinging, which might rotate'the rotor. of the coupler or unlock the coupler anti-creep look, I prefer toprovide a point of. contact 15 between the upright member 13 of the operating rod and an element 16 on the car,-fias" shown in Fig. 3. Furthermore,

I p refer'toposition the outer end 180i the operating. rod beyond a. vertical plane 19 passing through the bearing of the bracket so the rod has a tendency to swing theupright member 13 toward the car, as shown in Fig. 3.

' The. device is operated by swinging the operating rod shank 12 around the axis of the bearing 8, which is done by preferably catching hold of the rod adjacent the upright 'member. However, the rod may be grabbed anywhere between its connection to the coupler'a nd the upright .member13. In this arrangement the shank portion 12 is a handle for manual operation of the device. Further- ;more,'the coupler can be moved laterally by means of this operating rod forming what is commonly called a coupler positioning device. I v I Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show a modified construction wherein the device islprovided with a stabilizer for the operating rod which, in the form illustrated, comprises a relatively. wide bar 20 forming the bearing on the bracket and the "upright member 21 of the operating rod is formed with spaced apart portions 22-23 engaging the margins of the bar. 20 so that as the operating rod: is swung the weight of the operating rod is shifted-toone of said portions, causing a tendency for the rod to returnto normal position by gravity. The top .5.otthe1o0p forming the spaced apart portions is arched to clear any accumulation of dirt or ice on the bar. An aperture 26 may be provided to allow dirt and snow to fall through.

F igs.'7, 8 and 9 show a modified form wherein the device is provided with a stabili'zerv lock. Theuprightmember 30 of the operating rod is provided with parts 31 and 32. w i en age the pp site si es 9i th te ing 8, 5 th b ec e so. that t p ing rod cannot swing laterally until it is lifted upwardly out of engagement with the sides of the shaft.

The spaced apart port ons :36 all w t member 30 to be swung after it is raised vertically.

Figs. 10,11 and 12 showa modified form wherein theoperating rod is provided with a horizontalextension 40 which is necessary when it isnot practical to put the sliding bracket 41 adjacent the. side wall 42 of the car. The horizontal extension provides avertical .(44) and horizontal (45) 'handhold which I complies with the Interstate Oommerce Commission Safety ApplianceActs specifying the distance of the-handle from the side'iof the car. This modification shows I a depending .wall "47 -ha ving a horizontal flange 4.8 :which. engages'the portion .49 of the upright member of the operating red to retain it at the desired angle so that its weight providesia tendency for it to swing toward thecar.

Figs. 13. and 14 show a simple slidable bracket formed of a casting having oppositely positioned walls 5051 through which a @190 bolt 52 extends to provide theslid'ing bearing for theup'right member 53 ct the operating rod. This casting is also provided with a shelf: for keeping the rod at the desired angle.

The accompanying drawings, illustrate 5105 the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shownrand described,'as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the 5110 scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art. I

I claim: Q I

1. In a railway car, an operating for'use with 1a car coupler mounted upon the car to move laterally. in service and having a member mounted upon the coupler arranged to operate thecoiiplerupon rotation o a pera ing ed, s d. evi comp a bra euet d m n t e an. and, 1. 1 erating, rod comprising a shank portion 0per'ati'velyconnec't'ed to the member at its inner end a id. p ti n exten n u wa y r w we: 1 o sa s ank' ex n, aidupwas ext ndin p r ie b ing s bly and piv t y supp r ed i s uppe n -hr sa d bracket so as. to, allow the rod to move longitudinally ofitself with the movement. of. the ;co.uplerf"sidewise' of the car,'whereby said device shank portion is a handle for manual operation of the device.

2. In a railway car, an operating device for use with a car coupler mounted upon the car to move laterally in service and having a member mounted upon the coupler arranged to operate the coupler upon rotation of an operating rod, said device comprising a bracket mounted upon the car provided with a bearing, and an operating rod comprising a shank portion operatively connected to the member at its inner end and a portion extending upwardly from the outer end of said shank portion said upwardly extending portion being slidably and pivotally supported at its upper end by said bracket so as to allow the rod to move longitudinally of itself with the movement of the coupler sidewise of the car, whereby said shank portion is a handle for manual operation of the device, said upright portion having spaced apartportions engaging said bearing form ing a stabilizer for said device.

3. In a railway car, an operating device for use with a car coupler mounted upon the car to move laterally in service and having a member mounted upon the coupler arranged to operate the coupler upon rotation of an operating rod, said device comprising a bracket mounted upon the car, and an operating rod having a shank operatively connected to the member at its inner end and a portion extending upwardly from the outer end of said shank portion, said upwardly extending portion being slidably and pivotally supported at its upper end bysaid bracket so as to allow the rod to move longitudinally of itself with the movement of the coupler sidewise of the car, whereby said shank por-- tion is a handle for manual operation of the device, and means forming a stabilizer for said device.

' ARTHUR E. SMALL. 

